Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence at the Health and Social Care Committee on 9 July 2019, what the expiration date is for the options on the additional transport capacity for medicines; what the timescales are for exercising those options; and what the cost to the Department will be if those options are not exercised.

The details of the contract notices, specification and contract conditions associated with the procurement of contingency freight solutions for medicines and medical products is currently being finalised as part of the pre-procurement market engagement being conducted ahead of publication.

The terms and conditions associated with the procurement exercises will be available in conjunction with the contract notice publication, to inform potential bidders.